The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-20
BEEcHER,s ILLNESS AND DEATH.
The Story of the Great Preachers Last Hours
Told by His Faithful and Devoted Wife.


Memorial Edition of Brooklyn Eagle.
Mrs Henry Ward Beecher and her children hoped
that the home facts and incidents of the death of Mr.
Beechtr would be printed but that the medical
statement of the would be the only one made.
They recognize however, that that could be
expected. when the interest and sympathy and curl
osty of tho great world the departure of
great a man were taken into consideration.
Accounts of the last scenes were inevitable Many
inaccuracies in such accounts were certain: at
tho time were unavoidable and not few have been of
nature by which history may be mised and wrong
full differences of the spirit and habits of MIR Beech
ers home life be formed. The family recognize that
for all these the simple facts would better be
simply told.
Accordingly, Mrs Beecher has communicated them
to an Eagle representative with the purpose and
quest that he write them out for publication just
they and just as they were told to him. He has
done in what follows.-ED. EAGLE.
Thursday, the Sd of March, was Henry Ward
Beecher's last day of health and full conscious
pess on the earth The day before, Wednesday.
the Cd of March, in the evening. his wife said
to him:
Father, can you leave off your writing to-
morrows l want you to 60 with ne to New
York"
Eyes mother, will whether can or not;
what do you want me to doln
The two called one another father and mother
when speaking to or of one another. as the habit
of long married lovers is. The appellations of
the children thus become woven in with the
habits of talk Of the parents. The parental
feeling was SO strong in both that its form of
speech expressed the protective sense OF each
toward the other.
In answer to his question Mrs. Beecher told
her husband that she wanted him to select with
her, furniture for the parlors of the church and
other things mentioned. They went to New
York early Thursday morning. wandered and
in good time for tea. Mr.. Beecher taking
his usual short nap before that meal.
1T was the happiest day OF my
Gfe," remarked Mrs Beecher II never knew
NV bpe hao nd Eva1v rondor and hofo
not in a long time His mind heart and
health were at their best. He overaowed with
talk, both humorous and serious. am so
glad, mother said her that you are we'll enough
again to interest yourself in church work. The
fair we have had got all the ladies together. 1t
gave them something to do. Each ones gift or
work or help was equal in spirit and value. The
proceeds were enough to newly furnish the par
lors. The event will lead to social meetings
again. 1t there has been any apathy or hard
ness of feeling among the ladies it has been
moved / want you to share my work. You
can do much of it that cannot do or do nearly
so we'll as you. I want Plymouth to be again
as eminentlv social church as it was in other
years You should meet the ladies frequently.
They love you and they love the church, and
they love to please and cooperate with you and
work for the church. 1t will make us both
young again"
In such talk and with pleasant work the two
passed the last day he was to see with fulness
of consciousness.
That night Mr. Beecher dined with the fami-
ly. played backgammon in tho sitting room.
waited for couple that wanted to be married.
went out on An errand and returned few min
utes before s. At 9 he said:
II guess I'll 60 to bed"
''Why. father. what does that meanq Is there
anything the matter with you~ asked Mrs
Beecher.
Nothing" he smilingly answered. ''only I'm
tired. I've done good deal of work with you
to-day"
'But you've been tired before and FEVER re-
tired until about TO-" rejoined his wife.
Well. l guess I'll 60 to bed anyway" he said
and he did.
He babe those assembled good night went up
stairs with firm tread and, according to what
she further had said to him. Mrs Beecher went
upstairs a quarter of an hour later, not intend
ing then to retire. but to write near him in the
adjoining room. When Mrs. Beecher went
asleep on his right side. his head rest
ing on his right hand. She was surprised,
for it was his habit to undress gradually, to
sit in his shirt sleeves and read little, to talk
a while on the events Of the day and to 90 to
bed about an hour after going up stairs. How
ever, Mrs Beecher found him sleeping so tran
GULLY that she did not disturb him. She wrote
in the adjoining room until A. NJ Then. find
ing her husband still asleep, she concluded to
sleep in the room in which she had been writing,
instead of. her habit was. with him, SO as not
to disturb him. She passed her hand over his
forehead and felt of his left hand. The flesh
was warm ana natural a0Q MS steep was as the
sleep OF little child.
Some hours after retiring Mrs. Beecher was
aroused by a sound in her husbands room. She
at once ran to his side and found him suffering
from extreme nausea. The attack was long and
hard, but he experienced entire relief. 1t was
| between A and in the morning.
"Father, what's the mat.er2" she asked
Mother nothing only sick headache he
| said.
"Henry, you never had a headache in your
| Efo haforQ SOmafhiup muet ha abs
! anxiously rejoined.
| "No; it's only sick headache. Ishall be bet
| ter" ne replied.
Mrs Beecher wiped her husbands face and
| hands. removed the traces of the nausea
| smoothed and arranged his pillows. While she
/ was doing that he said:
you are not by mo to- night Well, dear, &C
to sleep again, and don't stay up in your bare
| feet"
| When the lady returned after this from plac
| ing a towel on the rack, and approached the bee
| where Mr.. Beecher was, she was again surprised
to find he had instantly fallen in profound sleep
| Nevertheless she did not disturb him, but wen
again to the bed in the adjoining room Mrs.
| Beecher, as her habit is, arose and dressed at
| A. NJ. She noticed her husband still sleeping
| She Resumed her writing. and WAS surprised
that neither the rising bell nor the breakfas
bell walked him. 1t had never been so before.
The family OF children and grandchildren
trooped down the stairs that Friday morning.
joking. laughing and chasing one another or
their way to breakfast. Mrs. Beecher descend
| ed last, with a heavy heart bat hopeful tina
slumber meant recuperation. Entering tn,
room, she narrated what has been told, and OK
| pressed her apprehension.
Nonsense, mother" said Colonel Beecher
| ''you know the Beechers all cure themselves il
| sleep. l wouldn't waken him."
There's not much likelihood of my wakin,
him. il the noise you all made coming down
stairs didn't do it" she resumed. Mrs. Beeche
then asked her daughter in law what Mr.
Beecher had eaten for supper the night before
Nothing but six roasted clans, was that lady
reply. There were six sent to each plate. MI
Beecher did not send up his plate second time
AS he was accustomed to and fond of that dish
it was agreed that that did not account for hi
nausea.
Mr.. Beecher slept through the day. His wife
went to his side several times, but did no. dis
turb him. Near o'clock in the afternoon, tel
hours after his attack, she sent her maid with